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Days, weeks and months for peace

Submitted by Co-ordinator on Mon, 2015-09-21 17:09

21st September as UN Peace Day is gaining a higher profile each year, with people and organisations around the world using it to raise awareness and take action on different aspects of peace. But it also marks the beginning of a period which features a number of days and weeks with a peace and Quaker focus. Friends around the North will be taking a lead in some of these and participating in many more. Our website calendar lists some of them and we would be pleased to hear from others so that we can add more. They range from talks and actions, such as peace lectures, to acts of protest and witness. The following are links to just some of these. But beyond these, our peace testimony is a process of discovering what we can do throughout this week, month and year and all weeks, months and years. As we are reminded in our Advices and Queries…(see bottom of article)

31. We are called to live ‘in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars’. Do you faithfully maintain our testimony that war and the preparation for war are inconsistent with the spirit of Christ? Search out whatever in your own way of life may contain the seeds of war. Stand firm in our testimony, even when others commit or prepare to commit acts of violence, yet always remember that they too are children of God.
32. Bring into God’s light those emotions, attitudes and prejudices in yourself which lie at the root of destructive conflict, acknowledging your need for forgiveness and grace. In what ways are you involved in the work of reconciliation between individuals, groups and nations?
33. Are you alert to practices here and throughout the world which discriminate against people on the basis of who or what they are or because of their beliefs? Bear witness to the humanity of all people, including those who break society’s conventions or its laws. Try to discern new growing points in social and economic life. Seek to understand the causes of injustice, social unrest and fear. Are you working to bring about a just and compassionate society which allows everyone to develop their capacities and fosters the desire to serve?

Saturday 4 —
Peace History Conference: 1917 —
Salford. - a day exploring the effects of the Russian Revolutions on the British labour and peace movement. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peace-history-conference-1917-tickets-35782127306

October 2017

Thursday 19 —
Why War is No Solution to World Problems —
with Wayne Sharracks of Veterans for Peace 7-9pm Talking of Peace, Friargate Meeting House, York [email protected] http://www.yorkquakers.org.uk/news.html

Saturday 28 —
Creating a better world: Some lessons for the next 25 years —
Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR)'s 25th anniversary conference - London - http://www.sgr.org.uk/events/creating-better-world . -
With the world facing heightened risks - the conference will draw upon some of the latest research to look at what could be achieved in the not-so-distant future.

Saturday 21 —
Take Action on Militarism —
at FriendsHouse in London: Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW) and ForcesWatch are launching a pack on taking action on militarism in the UK - workshops, speakers etc. Booking via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/take-action-on-militarism-gathering-tickets-35697378821

Saturday 7 to Saturday 14 —
Keep Space for Peace Week —
WORLDWIDE. Join the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space as they commemorate Keep Space for Peace Week. Events happening across the UK, as well as the rest of the world - more information to follow. http://www.space4peace.org/

September 2017 to October 2017

Saturday 30 to Monday 16 —
Edinburgh World Justice Festival —
Theme of two weeks of events "Creating Hope Through People Power" Full programme of events - many with a peace focus - and information - http://www.ewjf.org.uk/

September 2017

Thursday 14 —
Pontefract public meeting on Nuclear Convoys —
Hosted by Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - 19:00–21:00
- Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/161722344388003 - This meeting is being organised by Yorkshire CND in conjuction with local residents, and is for anyone who is interested in, or would like to find out more about nuclear convoys. It will be in St Joseph's School hall. All are welcome, and refreshments will be provided.

Monday 4 to Monday 11 —
STOP THE ARMS FAIR - WEEK OF ACTION —
with the main focus of events being at the Excel Centre, Docklands, London, during the week of *4-11 September*, there are also activities before and after, including Art the Arms Fair and vigils in other parts of the country. "*Full listing of related events*":https://www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk/events/

Tuesday 5 —
Stop the Arms Fair – No Faith in War —
. Faith groups of all kinds will come together for a day of prayer and nonviolent direct action against the arms trade and war profiteering. ExCeL Exhibition Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL.020 7281 0297 https://www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk/events/stop-the-arms-fair-week-of-action/ or https://www.caat.org.uk/events